TABUK CITY, Kalinga – In an effort to improve the implementation of the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) programs and projects in Kalinga, key strategies have been identified by the banner program representatives and provincial participants during the recent Provincial Implementors Meeting (PIM) for 2025.
During the meeting, DA-CAR Agricultural Program Coordination Office (APCO) Kalinga Head, Balag-ey Claver, explained that this was the first PIM for Kalinga this year. It was attended by various operating units and will be followed by the Provincial Coordinators Meeting (PCM), which will be headed by agency implementors in the province, alongside local executives.
Claver shared, “During our discussions with the management committee in Baguio City, we agreed that the focus of the PIM must be on addressing emerging issues per province. In Kalinga, the implementation of the F2C2 program and the rice program, including the ongoing geo-tagging, have emerged as key issues. In addition, representatives from various banner programs were present to update and provide the necessary information to both our participants and the regional office.”
The PIM serves as a vital platform for the DA to inform participants about the latest developments from banner programs, discuss accomplishments, and explore strategic approaches to effectively implement DA programs and projects within the local government units of the province.
Beverly Pekas, Chief of DA-CAR’s Field Operations Division (FOD), emphasized the importance of conducting PIM not just in Kalinga, but across the provinces in CAR to assess and enhance the delivery of agricultural services.
“PIM helps us evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural service delivery. With rice accounting for the largest share of the budget at 70%, Kalinga’s rice farmers play a crucial role as the top producers in the Cordillera region. During the Masagana Integrated Rice Development Project forum, we learned that the national goal is to produce 9-10 tons per hectare, assuming the best variety is planted with proper fertilizer, irrigation, and favorable weather conditions. Our main objective is to drive poverty reduction through climate-resilient technology and inclusivity, providing agricultural support to women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples (IP). One of our key strategies to achieve this is clustering,” Pekas said.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Kalinga’s average rice production stands at 4.8 tons per hectare. Simulated activities by DA-CAR through the rice banner programs forecast that by 2028, the region will reach a production level of 4.08 tons per hectare.
Claver also highlighted the regional department’s call for provincial, city, and municipal agriculture officers to consider new initiatives when developing project proposals. These proposals must include shovel-ready plans, with all necessary supporting documents and specific information.
“Director Dawayan, in a recent meeting with Kalinga’s agricultural officers, stressed the importance of shovel-ready proposals. This means the proposals should be comprehensive. For infrastructure-related proposals, they should include necessary documents such as the program of work and not just letters of intent,” Claver explained.
Among the key agreements reached during the PIM in Kalinga were the scheduling of an emergency meeting to address the effects of scale-up projects in the banner programs, clarifying the role of APCOs in distributing interventions, updates on the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), intervention monitoring via Intervention Monitoring Cards (IMC), an orientation on KADIWA NG PANGULO (KNP), a review of the F2C2 clustering process, and the extension of the 4K program until 2028. Additionally, proposals for livestock and corn for 2025, the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP) plans for 2026, and updates from the research division were also discussed. By JTLlanes
